Pingshun Dayun Temple

Pingshun Dayun Temple

Pingshun Dayun Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Dayun Temple

Dayun Temple (Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Five Dynasties to Qing Dynasty

Address: 23 km northwest of Pingshun County, in Long’er Mountain, north of Shihui Village

The temple was established in the third year of the Tianfu era (938) during the Later Jin of the Five Dynasties. Originally named Xianyan Temple, also called Dayun Temple. In the first year of the Xiande era (954) of the Later Zhou, a pagoda was built outside the temple. By the first year of the Jianlong era (960) of the Northern Song, there were already over a hundred halls. In the eighth year of the Taiping Xingguo era (983), it was renamed Dayun Chan Temple by imperial decree. It gradually fell into disrepair later on. The extant structures, apart from the Mahavira Hall and the Seven-Treasure Pagoda which date back to the Five Dynasties, were all built during the Qing Dynasty.

The temple complex faces south and its main structures include the mountain gate (also the Heavenly King Hall), the middle hall (Amitabha Hall, also called the Mahavira Hall), the rear hall, and two side corridors. The Amitabha Hall is the principal hall of Dayun Temple, initially built in the fifth year of the Tianfu era (940) of the Later Jin of the Five Dynasties. It is one of only three surviving wooden structures from the Five Dynasties period in China. The front terrace of the hall is 1.3 meters high and constructed of bluestone, while the other three sides rise gradually with the terrain. The front eaves have doors and windows, and there is also a passageway through the rear eaves. The hall is three bays wide and six rafters deep, with a nearly square floor plan. The column capitals are rounded and smooth, and the column bases feature inverted-bowl designs adorned with lotus motifs. Above the wall columns, the architrave and the auxiliary beam intersect perpendicularly; at the corners, the architrave does not protrude, while the auxiliary beams intersect obliquely. The bracket sets under the eaves are exquisitely crafted. The roof is supported by a system of brackets and beams. On the front eave are doors and windows. The hall is three bays wide and six rafters deep, with a nearly square layout. The column capitals are smoothly rounded, and the column bases resemble inverted bowls decorated with treasure-flower and lotus patterns. The upper wall columns feature intersecting architraves and auxiliary beams forming a T-shape; at the corners, the architraves do not extend out, while the auxiliary beams crisscross diagonally. The eave brackets are intricately designed. The lower eaves display a layered bracket system. The front eave includes both doors and windows. The hall is three bays in width and six rafters in depth, with an almost square shape. The column capitals are round and refined, and the bases are shaped like inverted bowls adorned with treasure-mounted lotus designs. Above the wall columns, the architrave and the auxiliary beam intersect to form a T-shape; the architrave does not extend beyond the corner columns, while the auxiliary beams intersect diagonally. The eave brackets are finely detailed. There are various types of bracket arms with different sizes and forms. The interior preserves over 20 square meters of Five Dynasties murals, painted in blue, green, and ochre, with ink outlines, sharing stylistic similarities with the late Tang murals in Dunhuang's Mogao Caves. The brackets and colored paintings reflect distinct artistic styles, offering insight into early Chinese decorative art.

Inside the hall is preserved a Five Dynasties stone incense burner, inscribed with the words: “Xianyan Chan Temple, Second Year of the Guangshun Era, 12th Month, 15th Day, Year of Renzi.” In front of the Mahavira Hall are a stone pagoda from the fourth year of the Qiande era (966) and another from the second year of the Xianping era (999) of the Northern Song, as well as a stone-carved arhat statue—each a work of art. Outside the temple to the south stands the Seven-Treasure Pagoda, built in the first year of the Xiande era (954) of the Later Zhou of the Five Dynasties. The pagoda is made of stone, double-layered with an overlapping hip-and-gable roof in an octagonal shape, approximately 6 meters tall. It consists of a double-layered Sumeru pedestal, a double-layered body, and a triple-layered finial. The pagoda body is elegantly shaped with rich, vivid carvings, still bearing the stylistic influence of the Tang Dynasty.

Location

Shihui Village, Pingshun County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units